8 replies to this topic

[Asela Earthling]

Hi i own a 1996 35th Anniversary edition SPI Mini (Manual) imported from Japan.

My problems are:

1. While driving, sometimes the engine stalls when the clutch is engaged. I have owned the car for about 2 years and it was there even when i bought it but it occurred very rarely.

2. Recently it started that sometimes engine doesn't rev instantly at the start of acceleration. This happens in any gear when you start moving or while moving. The car jumps forward suddenly about a few seconds after pressing on the accelerator. As if some force has been holding the car from moving and released suddenly. I'm not an expert but it seems like the petrol gets accumulated inside the cylinders for few seconds and it all burns suddenly - like a delay in the spark..

3. Also recently - Fluctuating RPM at idle

About an year ago engine got over heated couple of times due to the radiator electric fan failure. Even then the car was working fine until recently when the engine started misfiring a lot. After which the engine head was repaired (Head refacing, valve refacing, valve seat repair, valve guide replacement, head gasket replacement). Also found out that there is a slight play in one of the pistons while the head was removed but it was not repaired for the moment. Got the wiring checked as well. Relay for engine management was repaired and there were few earth problems which were rectified.

 

After these repairs the car was working fine for one day and it all started happening again the next day except heavy misfiring... engine stalls when the clutch is engaged, RPM fluctuating at idle and the engine doesn't rev/move as you start accelerating.

 

Has anyone here faced similar problems? Any advise is deeply appreciated..

Edited by Asela Earthling, 12 October 2019 - 08:35 AM.

[Ethel]

By engaged do you mean when the pedal is pressed down? If you do adjusting your throwout stop may help.

[mk1leg]

I assume you have checked all the vac pipes and rubber connectors under throttle body and check the stepper throttle mechanism sometimes you need to do this before you try and start the engine just turn the key to 1 position depress the throttle 6 times to reset the ECU a tip from an old mechanic then start the car 

[Asela Earthling]

Ethel - Thanks. Yes i meant when the clutch is pressed down.. instances like when changing gears and while applying breaks.. The RPM decreases as the clutch is pressed gradually and engine stalls when it's pressed fully. If i left the foot while the RPM is decreasing, it increases and the engine doesn't stall.

 

mk1leg - I will inquire from the repair shop and see if the vacuum pipes and the rubber connectors were checked.. and also regarding the stepper throttle mechanism. Thanks for the advice. I will try out what you have mentioned reg. resetting the ECU and will update here.

 

I spoke to the mini repair shop where the head was repaired and informed about the situation.. They were asking me to get the wiring checked again thoroughly because the car worked fine for sometime after all the repairs and it suddenly started again.

[cal844]

Was the engine earth installed after the repairs?

Check the adjustment on the clutch throw out nuts, then check crank end float too...

Test the car in between each test so you know the issue is fixed and what fixed it.

Hope this helps

Cal

[Cooperman]

When the clutch is pushed down the clutch dis-engages from the drive line. Stalling or the revs dropping when this is done is due to the crankshaft being pushed too hard into the thrust bearings and if ignored the thrust bearings will be damaged (if they haven't already). Immediately adjust the throwout stop & measure the crankshaft end-float.

With regard to the poor running of the engine, you may need to get a full diagnosis test run as it is difficult to advise further on here without access to the car.

[Asela Earthling]

Thanks cal844 and Cooperman for your advice. Please correct me if i'm wrong.. from what I understand, if this was related to clutch throw out stop, should the engine stall every time you press the clutch full? In my case sometimes it wouldn't stall. Sometimes the RPM decreases really low (as if about to stall) and increases back again while the clutch is kept pressed fully (ex: while brakes applied) and sometimes it works normal.

After my last update the situation got worse and it got to a point, sometimes the engine would stall in the middle of the road and wouldn't even start for couple of minutes. Also sometimes when you accelerate and take your foot off from the accelerator pedal the engine slows down and stalls.

So I took the car back to the auto electrician yesterday and 1st he replaced the fuel pump with some Japanese one and there was some serious improvement. After this i took the car for a test run, but still sometimes it didn't rev instantly as i pressed on the accelerator. So he took apart the engine management relay and re-soldered all the connections in the circuit board and this solved all the remaining problems. I was so happy that finally the car was running smoothly although rarely stalling when the clutch is pressed.

But today again it gradually started... sometimes engine doesn't rev as you start accelerating and also sometimes the engine stalls when the clutch is pressed. It stalled once and took about 20 seconds to get it started.. This is insane.. haha

 

Edited by Asela Earthling, 15 October 2019 - 10:20 AM.

[Ethel]

Do check the throw out. It might not be the issue, but if it is it could result in serious damage. The crank position sensor is about the only bit of engine management that could be directly related, but it could also be something coincidental.

[Cooperman]

Do as Ethel says before driving much more.
Incorrect overthrow setting can do serious damage which requires a full engine strip to repair.